WCPFC-CA South Pacific albacore catch summaries

Author

Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center

Last updated

2024-11-30

This document provides a summary of South Pacific albacore (SPA) catch within the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) convention area. Catch summaries are provided for all participating Members, Participating Territories and Cooperating Non-Members (CCMs) with longline and troll catch of SPA per the most recent WCPFC Yearbook data. Catch summaries are placed in the context of a proposed Conservation and Management Measure (CMM) on a management procedure (MP) for SPA (public proposal).

1 CCM specific catch summaries

The proposed CMM for an MP for SPA would apply to all troll and longline fisheries operating south of the equator. Each run of the MP would set total catch values for fisheries under MP control relative to average recent catch values. Recent catch is defined as the period 2020-2022.

Average total catch of SPA over the recent period is 61,140 metric tons (mt), of which 60,800 mt1 (or 99.44 % of recent average total catch) is subject to the proposed MP control.

Of the recent average catch that is subject to MP control 51,814 mt (92.48 %) is caught in longline fisheries and 4,213 mt (7.52 %) is caught in troll fisheries (Figure 1).

Figure 1: Total catch by fishery, sorted from smallest recent average catch (2020-2022) to largest, where fill color indicates gear. Left y-axis gives the % of recent total average catch. Right y-axis gives the recent average catch in metric tons.

Broken out by fishery2, China is responsible for the largest share of recent average SPA with 20,364 mt of longline catch or 36.35 % of total average recent catch (Figure 2).

Figure 2: Total catch by fishery, sorted from smallest recent average catch (2020-2022) to largest, where fill color indicates CCM category. Left y-axis gives the % of recent total average catch. Right y-axis gives the recent average catch in metric tons.

Table 1 contains the same recent average catch shown in Figure 1 and Figure 2 for each fishery subject to MP control. It also contains maximum allowable cuts (5 %) and increases (10 %) each time the MP is applied based on the constraints in the proposed CMM3. Table 2 gives the recent average catch and compares it to average catch in three additional historical time periods (2000-2004, 2007-2009 and 2011-2013).

Figure 3 shows the percentage of total recent average SPA catch (y-axis) that comes from fisheries that individually make-up less than a given percentage (x-axis) of total recent average SPA catch.

Figure 3: Aggregate total catch (y-axis) for all fisheries with individual total catch less than or equal to a threshold (x-axis).

2 CCM catch by fishing zone

Figure 4: Exclusive economic zones (EEZs) and high-seas (HS) areas, shaded regions, within the WCPFC-CA. Source https://www.wcpfc.int/ace_by_eez.

CCM catch can also be broken out by fishing zone (Figure 4), where catch originates from either an exclusive economic zone (EEZ) or the high-seas (HS). Figure 5 shows the same data as in Section 1 (see also Table 1) with the proportion attributable to fishing zone highlighted. Fishing zone designation for longline fisheries come from Table 6 of SC20-SA-IP-07 produced by the WCPFC scientific services provider, the Pacific Community (SPC). That paper notes that in the case of some EEZ or high-seas areas with straddle the equator attribution of SPA catch to the southern WCPFC-CA is approximated. Catch designation was unavailable for the troll fisheries. It was assumed that the U.S. and Canadian troll fisheries operated exclusively in the high-seas while the New Zealand troll fishery operated in their domestic EEZ.

Figure 5: Total catch by fishery, sorted from smallest recent average catch (2020-2022) to largest, where fill color indicates proportion of catch attributable to fishing zone type (e.g., EEZ or High-seas; HS). Left y-axis gives the % of recent total average catch. Right y-axis gives the recent average catch in metric tons.

Taking a more granular look at the information available in SC20-SA-IP-07 (Table 6), catch flows for recent average longline SPA catch can be identified between CCMs and specific fishing zones4 (Figure 6). For example, in addition to fishing in the high-seas, these data indicate China has reported catches of at least 500 mt in 4 EEZs with the most in-zone catches for China occuring in the Cook Islands (2,895 mt). This is more clearly shown by focusing on the reported fishing zone source of all recent average SPA catch by DWFNs (Figure 7). From Figure 6 some CCMs (Australia, New Zealand, American Samoa, French Polynesia, and New Caledonia.) appear to report recent average SPA catch exclusively within their own domestic EEZs. The recent average reported longline catch network of the remaining CCMs, belonging to either the PNA+ or South Pacific Group (SPG), is shown in Figure 8.

Note that recent average longline SPA catch totals in Figure 6, Figure 7 or Figure 8 may not exactly match the values listed in Table 1 due to approximations in attribution for fishing zones that straddle the equator.

Additionally, with regards to vessel chartering arrangements, the public WCPFC Yearbook data attributes catch to the chartered flag as opposed to the vessel-flag state.

Figure 6: Chord diagram indicating the breakdown of reported longline SPA catch by fishing zone. Circular segments around the outer edge of the chart indicate the average recent total SPA catch (mt) for each CCM. Colored arcs indicate the source of the SPA catch. Segment and arc color correspond to CCM group.
Figure 7: Sankey diagram indicating the breakdown of reported recent average longline SPA catch by fishing zone, only for DWFN fleets. Segments on the left indicate origin, flowing into segments on the right indicating DWFN fleet. Segment color corresponds to CCM group. This figure is a subset of Figure 6.
Figure 8: Chord diagram indicating the breakdown of reported longline SPA catch by fishing zone for CCMs belonging to either the PNA+ or SPG. Circular segments around the outer edge of the chart indicate the average recent total SPA catch (mt) for each CCM. Colored arcs indicate the source of the SPA catch. Segment and arc color correspond to CCM group. This figure is a subset of Figure 6.

3 Disclaimer

This data summary and Github repository is a scientific product and is not official communication of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or the United States Department of Commerce. All NOAA GitHub project code is provided on an ‘as is’ basis and the user assumes responsibility for its use. Any claims against the Department of Commerce or Department of Commerce bureaus stemming from the use of this GitHub project will be governed by all applicable Federal law. Any reference to specific commercial products, processes, or services by service mark, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise, does not constitute or imply their endorsement, recommendation or favoring by the Department of Commerce. The Department of Commerce seal and logo, or the seal and logo of a DOC bureau, shall not be used in any manner to imply endorsement of any commercial product or activity by DOC or the United States Government.

4 Data

Table 1: Average recent (2020-2022) catch in metric tons by fishery (CCM x Gear). The “% Total” column gives the percentage of average recent total catch attributable to each fishery. The “% HS” column gives the percentage of fishery catch caught on the high seas. The maximum possible cut, Max (-), and increase, Max (+), using the MP constraints defined in the proposed CMM are also shown for reference.
ID CCM cat. CCM Gear SPA catch (mt) % Total Max (-) Max (+) % HS
CN - L DWFN CN Longline (L) 20,364 36.35 1,018 2,036 56.27
FJ - L FFA: SPG FJ Longline (L) 6,840 12.21 342 684 14.24
TW - L DWFN TW Longline (L) 4,938 8.81 247 494 93.44
VU - L FFA: SPG VU Longline (L) 3,322 5.93 166 332 94.58
PF - L SIDS: Other PF Longline (L) 3,229 5.76 161 323 0.03
NZ - T FFA: Other NZ Troll (T) 2,862 5.11 143 286 0.00
SB - L FFA: PNA+ SB Longline (L) 2,112 3.77 106 211 13.63
NC - L SIDS: Other NC Longline (L) 1,943 3.47 97 194 0.00
KI - L FFA: PNA+ KI Longline (L) 1,595 2.85 80 160 30.04
US - T DWFN US Troll (T) 1,320 2.36 66 132 100.00
WS - L FFA: SPG WS Longline (L) 1,285 2.29 64 128 0.16
JP - L DWFN JP Longline (L) 1,248 2.23 62 125 56.64
AU - L FFA: Other AU Longline (L) 1,104 1.97 55 110 0.18
CK - L FFA: SPG CK Longline (L) 971 1.73 49 97 20.57
FM - L FFA: PNA+ FM Longline (L) 821 1.46 41 82 1.54
AS - L SIDS: Other AS Longline (L) 755 1.35 38 76 4.96
KR - L DWFN KR Longline (L) 712 1.27 36 71 95.66
PG - L FFA: PNA+ PG Longline (L) 307 0.55 15 31 0.00
NZ - L FFA: Other NZ Longline (L) 129 0.23 6 13 0.00
TV - L FFA: PNA+ TV Longline (L) 87 0.16 4 9 97.13
CA - T DWFN CA Troll (T) 31 0.06 2 3 100.00
TO - L FFA: SPG TO Longline (L) 25 0.04 1 2 0.00
ID - L DWFN ID Longline (L) 19 0.03 1 2 0.00
ES - L DWFN ES Longline (L) 10 0.02 0 1 100.00
Table 2: South pacific albacore catch (mt) by fishery (CCM x Gear) and time period (2020-2022, 2000-2004, 2007-2009, and 2011-2013). The “% Total” column gives the percentage of total catch attributable to each fishery in the corresponding time period.
ID SPA catch (2020-2022) % Total (2020-2022) SPA catch (2000-2004) % Total (2000-2004) SPA catch (2007-2009) % Total (2007-2009) SPA catch (2011-2013) % Total (2011-2013)
AS - L 755 1.35 3,241 5.76 4,205 7.24 2,522 3.96
AU - L 1,104 1.97 536 0.95 1,575 2.71 712 1.12
AU - T NA NA 2 0.00 NA NA NA NA
BZ - L NA NA 1,660 2.95 66 0.11 50 0.08
CA - T 31 0.06 NA NA NA NA NA NA
CK - L 971 1.73 930 1.65 2,140 3.68 2,098 3.29
CK - T NA NA 353 0.63 53 0.09 NA NA
CN - L 20,364 36.35 2,840 5.05 13,371 23.01 18,559 29.15
ES - L 10 0.02 5 0.01 68 0.12 4 0.01
FJ - L 6,840 12.21 8,047 14.30 9,758 16.79 10,100 15.86
FM - L 821 1.46 NA NA NA NA 475 0.75
ID - L 19 0.03 NA NA NA NA NA NA
JP - L 1,248 2.23 3,947 7.02 2,672 4.60 2,456 3.86
KI - L 1,595 2.85 NA NA NA NA 197 0.31
KR - L 712 1.27 2,195 3.90 1,244 2.14 874 1.37
NC - L 1,943 3.47 1,132 2.01 1,493 2.57 1,728 2.71
NU - L NA NA NA NA 236 0.41 NA NA
NZ - L 129 0.23 2,144 3.81 387 0.67 329 0.52
NZ - T 2,862 5.11 3,203 5.69 2,294 3.95 2,783 4.37
PF - L 3,229 5.76 3,671 6.53 3,528 6.07 3,444 5.41
PG - L 307 0.55 593 1.05 989 1.70 459 0.72
PT - L NA NA NA NA NA NA 24 0.04
SB - L 2,112 3.77 140 0.25 NA NA 915 1.44
TO - L 25 0.04 822 1.46 245 0.42 22 0.04
TV - L 87 0.16 NA NA NA NA 263 0.41
TW - L 4,938 8.81 12,524 22.26 4,405 7.58 6,616 10.39
US - T 1,320 2.36 1,682 2.99 195 0.34 342 0.54
VU - L 3,322 5.93 3,267 5.81 6,432 11.07 6,999 10.99
WF - L NA NA NA NA NA NA 3 0.00
WS - L 1,285 2.29 3,319 5.90 2,757 4.74 1,698 2.67

5 CCM Abbreviations

Table 3: Two-letter country codes for each CCM.
CCM cat. CCM abbr. CCM
SIDS: Other AS American Samoa
FFA: Other AU Australia
DWFN CA Canada
FFA: SPG CK Cook Islands
DWFN CN China
DWFN ES Spain
FFA: SPG FJ Fiji
FFA: PNA+ FM Federated States of Micronesia
DWFN ID Indonesia
DWFN JP Japan
FFA: PNA+ KI Kiribati
DWFN KR Korea
SIDS: Other NC New Caledonia
FFA: Other NZ New Zealand
SIDS: Other PF French Polynesia
FFA: PNA+ PG Papua New Guinea
FFA: PNA+ SB Solomon Islands
FFA: SPG TO Tonga
FFA: PNA+ TV Tuvalu
DWFN TW Chinese Taipei
DWFN US United States
FFA: SPG VU Vanuatu
FFA: SPG WS Samoa
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Footnotes

  1. Indonesia (ID) reported some recent period SPA catch using a combination of handline (65 mt), small-scale-hook-and-line (62 mt) and other (66 mt) gears. New Zealand (NZ) reported 6 mt of recent period pole-and-line SPA catch. French Polynesia (PF) reported 16 mt of recent period pole-and-line and 208 mt of other SPA catch. Papua New Guinea (PG) reported 6 mt of recent period purse seine SPA catch. Solomon Islands (SB) reported 1 mt of recent period purse seine SPA catch.↩︎

  2. Fishery is defined as a unique combination of CCM and gear type.↩︎

  3. Maximum cuts and increases assume that future allocation reflects recent average catch over the period 2020-2022.↩︎

  4. Note for the purposes of this summary, the disputed maritime region of Matthew & Hunter (jointly claimed by New Caledonia and Vanuatu) was omitted from the analysis. Negligible catches were observed in this region.↩︎